Letters to the Editor July 12 - 18

C ayucos wants to take their money to where their students go, San Luis Coastal Unified School District.

The $1.2 million that comes from Cayucos property taxes currently goes to Coast Unified School District, while most Cayucos students go to San Luis Coastal. Seems fair, their request, even though a Coast Unified board member stated this is NOT about fairness. This gave some food for thought in these times of budget crunching.

San Luis Coastal’s superintendent is paid $190,000, divided by the 7,200 students (per their website) at San Luis Coastal, for about $26 per student. Coast Unified has a superintendent and an assistant superintendent. Coast Unified’s superintendent’s salary of more than $170,000 plus benefits, divided by the 750 students in the Coast Unified district, is about $227 per student. This 10 times San Luis Coastal!!

The entire Coast Unified School District should look at consolidating with San Luis Coastal, which would solve Cayucos’s concerns!! It would also solve Cambria’s problems. We are both “Basic Aid” districts, meaning direct funding from property tax.

Special Education services could be better met, more advanced placement (AP) classes could be offered, students could chose to go to other schools in the district, reductions in administration would save dollars which could be spent directly on students, and provide strong professional development through a bigger district.

Instead of losing money in the Coast Unified School District we would become a part of a bigger district. We would especially save money if we did not need a superintendent and an assistant superintendent for a district of only 750 students. Don’t know if I am for or against this. Just something to think about.

Jude BasileCambria

Connection clicked

A great big THANK YOU to Cambria’s Community Center, the Cambria Connection, for hosting an “alternate” July 4th celebration. Barbecued burgers, dogs and corn, together with yummy sides and desserts were provided at no cost to The Cambrian community. The celebration ran between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., leaving plenty of time to prepare for the evening fireworks at Shamel Park.

This event is destined to become “annual” with the folks and food being such a great, delicious and fun (games included). A big “shout out” to Stevan, Jack and their “chef” team for the shopping, set-up, cooking and fun!

Diana TeetzelCambria

Put it to a vote

According to FoxNews.com,“The Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools, or TRUST Act, which is currently making its way through the California legislature, would prohibit local law enforcement from turning over illegal immigrants for deportation except for those with serious felony convictions.”

This is something the California people should vote on—not have shoved down our throats by the Democrat government!

David ManionCambria

Farewell, pharmacy

Closed with no advance notice? The Cambria Village Pharmacy was not only a place to get prescriptions filled or find toys to keep our little visitors happy, but a place where many friendships have been forged over the years!

There will never be anyone like the girls who worked there —friends who knew your health struggles and treated you with respect.

Knowing what a good man the owner, Dana Nelson, is, it must have been a difficult decision.

So long dear friends, and special thanks to Loraine, who always made me smile.